Individual packaging machine



Oct. 8,1957

H. "N. MOORE INDIVIDUAL PACKAGING MACHINE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May 10,1949 IN VENTOR H. N. MOORE INDIVIDUAL PACKAGING' MACHINE Oct. 8, 1957 2Sheets-Sheet! Filed May 10. 1949 United States Patent INDIVIDUALPACKAGING MACHINE Howard Nelson Moore, Washington, D. C.

Application May 10, 1949, Serial No. 92,476

2S Claims. (Cl. 53-194) The present invention concerns packagingapparatus.

The present application is a continuation in part of copendingapplication Serial Number 411,235, filed September 17, 1941, nowabandoned, and may be utilized to produce the packages there shown andothers discussed herein and in copending related applications.

It is an object of the invention to provide means for producing apackage of a number of articles which are individually wrapped.

It is an object of the invention to provide means for producing apackage containing a number of substantially sterile articles, each ofwhich is sealed against contamination by any foreign matter, moisture orthe like.

lt is an object of the invention to provide automatic means forproducing a strong columnar segmented package comprising nested sectionswith overlapping side walls adhered to each other successively to formindividual sterile compartments, each containing at least one measuredarticle unit.

The present invention provides a device whereby individual units ofsimilar character may be rapidly and securely packaged individually by asingle strip of paper. While the illustrated form of the invention isprimarily intended to package relatively small articles such aslozengers, candy mints, tablets, pharmaceutical, it nevertheless may beapplied to much larger things such as slices of bread, cakes, cookies oranything which is fairly regular in outline and has two reasonably fiatsurfaces.

The invention finds an important application'in the field of foodpackaging. Many perishable foods, for example meat patties, may bepackaged individually in the same package by the present invention andmay thereby eliminate the need of refrigeration where the food producthas been irradiated, mixed with antibiotics, or other preservative meansemployed. It will be appreciated that the opening of one or morecompartment units will neither disturb norcontaminate the remainder ofthe package. While the units need not be round, they should preferablybe substantially uniform in shape.

The term article is used herein as a thing of a particular class orkind, as defined at page 156 of Websters New International Dictionary,Second Edition, unabridged, G. & C. Merriam Company, publishers, 1947.

One form of the present invention utilizes a feeding table in thecentral portion of which is an aperture of such size as to receive thearticle. The aperture is surrounded by a depending tube with a ilaringlip. A roll of wrapping paper of suitable width is deposed at one sideof the table and led by suitable guides and feeding rollers across theaperture. Above the aperture is positioned a die punch. The paper is fedacross the aperture by `suitable mechanism and the article to be WrappedpositionedY thereon. A die punch is then lowered to cut a suitable blankfrom the paper. The edges of the blank may be tongued or not as desired.A punch which is associated with the die structure forces the article tobe wrapped and the 'small paper blank upon which it rests into theflaring mouth Qf the aperture.

fifiice the paper blank to leave an upstanding annular collar extendingwell above the article to be wrapped. The article rests within the tubein a dishlike compartment the top of which is open. The feeding rollersadvance the paper strip so that it again covers the aperture and asecond article is deposited thereon overthe aperture and substantiallycentrally thereon. The dry punch again descends, cuts a second blank andforces the article and the blank on which it restsinto the tube on topof the rst article. The second blank will be seen to form a cover forthe rst article and the marginal portion of the rst blank will extend uparound the sides of the second article on the outside of the secondblank. This operation is repeated and the articlesvforce each other downthe tube which, after the mouth portion is passed, is of such diameteras to cause the marginal portion of the blanks toy lit snugly againstthe outside of the side of the next succeeding article and blank. Thetongued portions permit easy overlap at this stage. The paper may bewaxed coated or of heat sealing cellophane or the like. A portion of theperiphery ofthe tube may be heated by any suitable means such as aheating coil, causing the marginal portions of the blanks which arefolded against the sides of the succeeding blanks to adhere thereto in avapor proof gas tight seal. The article is entirely enclosed between thetwo blanks in an individual compartment. If desired the die punchstructure may be made hollow and the articles `deposited on the paperstrip over the aperture from a magazine feed in the hollow portion ofthe punch. In this way the larticle is deposited substantiallysimultaneously with the dieing out of the paper blank. A perhaps simplerconstruction may beobtained by employing a separate mechanism forpositioning the articles.

This is particularly true Where some variation in size must be dealtwith. If desired, pre-formed cups may be used to f orm the package astaught at Figures 10 and 11 of the above application by nesting them inthe tube where the cup walls overlap and are sealed.

In the drawings, like numerals refer to like parts throughout. Theseveral figures shown in the drawing arerpresented for illustrativepurposes only, to show one form the invention may take. They are not tobe taken as limiting.

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary elevation in section of one form of theinvention. Fig. 2 is an elevation in section of the die punchmechanismand one form of event wheel.

Fig. 3 is a section taken along line 3 3 of Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is 4a secondform of event Wheel.

Fig. 5 is one form of package having a formed closure of part of thewrapper.

Fig. 6 is yanother form of closure member.

i Oneform of the invention comprises a machine frame 10 of usualconstruction which supports a table 11 having package having an added acentral aperture 12. An annular guide ring 13 is mount-Y Yupper end oftube 15. While aperture 12and channel 14 are' shown a frusto conical and1tube `1S is cylindrical it will be understood that these elements mayhave polygonal, elliptical, or any other suitable cross-section toconfirm with or to form the packaged units or the package produced. Thelower end lofyturbe 15 may have a somewhat enlarged diameter at V16 andmay be connected with anotherftube or slide tti-deliverV completedpackages toga "e, Y y box or-'other -groupin'gfofv packagesV as amerchandizingVY There is suicient margin provided on 1 At one side ofaperture 12 a narrow roll 17 of strip packaging material such as waxedpaper, coated heat or pressure sealing cellophane, coated heat orpressure sealing foils or the like is mounted at 18 on frame 10 andtable 11. The narrow strip 19 is led over curved'guide 20, along theupper surface `of table 311 between feed rolls 21 and 22 and overaperture 12 to a very slightly raised stop edge 23 in table 11. Table 11is constructed with its upper surface at two slightly different levels,that portion to the left of stop edge 23 in Fig. l being higher than theportion to the right by the thickness of strip 19. Additional feed rolls21, 22 may be provided if desired to assure that strip 19 lies dat anddoes not buckle. Y' p A guide sleeve 24 is supported by frame 1Gdirectly over aperture 12 in table 11. A cutter member 25 is slidablymounted within guide sleeve 24 and provided with an annular cutting edge26 and radial slitting knives 27. Annular cutting edge 26 dies out acircular blank from strip 19 and radial knives 27 cut radial slits inthe outer edge of the blank. Where pucker is a problem slitting knives27 may take the form shown at 28 and remove small wedgeshaped sectorsfrom a blank.

Centered within guide sleeve 24 is a tube 29 which makes sliding contactwith an air tight packing gland 30 in the upper closed end 31 of guidesleeve 24. An annular piston plate 32 is mo-unted on tube 29 at 33 andslides smoothly within the guide sleeve 24. A coil spring 34 isconnected at one end to the lower side of annular piston 32, at the endto the upper side of cutter member 25 and surrounds that portion of tube29 between piston 32 and cutter 25. MountingA means 33 firmly unitespiston 32 and tube 29', but cutter member 25 can slide relative to bothsleeve 24 and tube 29 under the reaction of the cutting force exerted onstrip 1-9 and the eiect of spring 34.

Tube 29 may contain a central resilient plunger element 35 of rubber orthe like as shown in Fig. l or it may contain a series of closuremembers 36 of cardboard, liber, plastic or other material as shown inFig. 3. Where closure members aire employed tube 29 extends upward intoa supply hopper in which it reciprocates under the cornbned action ofpiston 32 and restoring spring 37. Restoring spring 37 is anchored tothe inner wall of sleeve 24 by bolts 38 and acts against the undersurface of piston 32. It is to be understood that although sleeve 2d,vcutter member 25 and tube 29 are shown as circular in cross-section theymay be of any shape suitable to cooperate with aperture 12, channel 14Vand tube 15.

As will be seen in Fig. 3 the upper portion of sleeve 24 between endclosure 31 and annular piston 32 comprises pneumatic cylinder to whichair under suitable pressure is supplied from compressor-reservoircombination 39 by pipe 4t). A combination control and bleed valve 41 isconnected in pipe 40 and -is operated by solenoid 42 connected in turnto control panel 43 by lead wires 44. Y

Closure member ejector 45 is mounted on an inner wall of sleeve 24 withthe pneumatic cylinder portion. Ejector 45 comprises a pointed armature46 movable to-` ward closure elements 36 `under the action of energizingwinding 47 connected to control panel 43 by lead Wires 4S. A lightcompression spring49 maintains armature 46 inoperative when winding 47is not energized. Armature 46 operates by extending through slot 50intube 29 and holding the column of closure members 36 stationarymomentarily until' the lowest element 36 is ejectedA placeable whenempty. Beneath article supply ltubefSl, is

mounted article positioning arm 53 having a curved ar-A ticle receivingface portion 54 and an elongate arcuate tail portion 55. Tube 51 israised suiciently above table 11 to allow ample clearance for thepassage of arm S3 and a si-ngle article 52. Arcuate tail portionsupports the remaining articles 52 until arm 53 is returned. Alrm 53 isoperated by a spring return solenoid 56 and pivoted connecting rod 57with suitable linkage. Solenoid 56 is connected to control panel 43 bylead wires 58.

Feed rolls 21 and 22 are driven by motor 59 connected to control panel43 by lead wires 60. Motor 59 delivers just the right amount of strip 19without drift.

Where the outline of cutting edge is other than rectangular an edgingknife 61 is mounted on cutter member 25 by stud bolts 62 which move inslot 63 in guide sleeve 24. T rimmings are removed through cleanerchannel 64 connected with a suitable source of low pressure and having avalve 65 operated by the descent of cutter member 25 or synchronizedtherewith through lead wires 44. Instead of using knife 61, roll 22 maybe a Ser rating roll of a circumference equal to the length of wrappingportion 79 and positioned close enough to aperture 12 that only a singleserration 80 exists in strip 19 at any one time.

In that form of the invention which employs resilient plunger element 35instead of closure members 36 closure of a package is effected in adifferent manner. A solenoid 66 is mounted on the underside of table 11.A depending arm 67 provides a pivot for bent lever arm 68 one end ofwhich is lconnected to plunger 69 of solenoid 66 and the other end has awidened package engaging portion '76. An elongate slot 71 in the lowerpart of tube 15 permits the passage of lever portion 70 which may becurved to t the bottom of the package. Lead wires 72 connect solenoid 66to control panel 43 and may have a suitable delay 'device or network 73in the circuit.

Top closure forming mold 74 is mounted on top of table 1.1 on an arm 75which swings it clear of strip 19 which may be carried in a recessedchannel in table 1i. Arm 75 is mounted in and operated by a springreturn solenoid 76 which is connected to control panel 43 by lead wires77. Heating element 7S is mounted on table 11 directly above closuremold 74 and is connected to a suitable source of power.-

The operation of the various elements is controlled by event timingwheel 81 shown with ten segments by way of example only. Wheel 81 isrotatably mounted on frame 10 or table 11 by pivot 82 and driven bymotor `83 with a small friction wheel 84 which bears against the outeredge of wheel 81. A cable bar S5 is mounted on pivot 82 and controlpanel 43 and carries a series of mioro-sWitches'connected to the variousterminals of control panel 43. Control panel 43 may bev provided with apower supply bus bar to which one side of each of the pairs of terminalsthereon is connected and a bus lead to which oneside of each o-fthemicro-switches on` cable bar S5 is connected. Cable 86 is carried by bar85 and connects the load side of each micro-switch to the loa-d side ofthevcorresponding pair of lead wires connected to control panel 43.Leads S7 supply power to the bus bar and bus lead.

That form of the invention which utilizes closure elements 36 and lformsa package 8S of eight units 52 is provided with an event timing wheel81'with events as shown in Fig. 2. Five-micro-switches S9, 90, 91, 92and 93 of the mercury tilt type are spaced along cable bar SSYtocorrespond with five event circles 94, 95, 96,97

and 98 on wheel 81. Y

The outer circle 94 is provided with eight camlike projections 99positioned at the leading edge of each segment 100 to 107' inclusive,which tilt mercury switch 89 and connect circuit 58 and? solenoid 56across the power supply to actuat'e arm 53 position unit 52 onstrip 19over` aperture 12.

d Circle is provided with eight camlike projections '11'07- centrallylocated in each of the segments 100 to 107 inclusive to cause switch 90to connect circuit 44 and solenoid, 42 across the power supply.

Circle 96 is provided with eight camlike projections 111 locatedadjacent the trailing edge of segments 100 to 106 inclusive and 108 tocause switch 91 to connect circuit 60 across the power supply andenergize motor 59.

Circle 97 is provided with a single camlike projection 112 positioned insegment 107 to close switch 92 just before switch 90 opens. Switch 92places circuit 48 across the power supply and actuates plunger 46 whentube 29 is in its lowest position. Switch 92 opens when tube 29 hasreturned the distance of the thickness of one closure unit 36. In viewof the critical character of this last action it may be desirable toactuate and release plungerV 46 by having tube 29 or piston 32 operate aswitch in circuit 48. A mercury tilt switch in circuit 48 could beclosed by a trip when tube 29 is in its lowest position and opened by asecond trip when tube 29 has been raised the thickness of one closureunit 36.

That form of the invention which utilizes top closure forms mold 74 andforms a package 113 is provided with an event timing wheel 114 which issimilar to wheel 81 in the `first seven segments 100 through 106inclusive, as shown by segments 115 through 121 inclusive. Segment 122closes circuits 58 and 44 respectively in the same time sequence as insegment 107 of wheel 81, but circuit 48 has been eliminated. In segment122, circle 97, camlike projection 125 closes switch 92 and connectscircuit 77 to the power supply, actuating solenoid 76 and placing topmold 74 over aperture 12. Switch 92 also closes circuit 72 and placessolenoid 66 across the power supply through delay device 73, thisassuring top mold 74 ample time to reach its position over aperturebefore package engaging portion 70 forces the package 113 upward, sothat form 74 folds the upper aps of package 113 over and seals them.

Package 88 usually contains six, eight or ten merchandise units 52 eachcontained in individual nested cup shaped members 126 having theirbottoms spaced apart to form compartments.

The walls of the members 126 are relatively long, establish asubstantial overlap with a nested member and closely approach the bottomof the second next adjacent nested cup, leaving a narrow annular band127 of single thickness of material such that the strength of thepackage 88 as a column is but slightly decreased and the opening of asingle individual compartment is greatly facilitated. It is onlynecessary to force a finger nail against narrow band 127 to give rise toa relatively high localized stress in shear in this narrow strip ofsingle thickness. The closely adjacent edge of the double wall portionprovides a stiff resistant shearing edge which cooperates with thefinger nail much like the blades of a pair of scissors. Where the cupmembers126 are made of heat sealing cellulose or other coated sheetmaterial the nested members 126 are sealed together by a ring of sealingmaterial adhering to the outside of one cup shaped member 126 adjacentits bottom and adhering to the inside of the next adjacent member 126below adjacent to its top, forming a strong unitary structural member ofthe nested cup members 126. Closure 36 is preferably a little largerthan the units 52 to assure a good seal under pressure as the cups 126pass heat ring 128 surrounding tube 15. For quicker setting of the heatseal, particularly for package 113, the heating effect o'f ring 128 islocalized by making it part of the inner wall of tube 15 an-d insulatingring 128 from the rest of tube 115 with iiber, porcelain, wood or thelike. Where desired, as with medicaments, closure 36 may be a foldedcoiled direction sheet.

Package 113 differs from package in the top closure which is formed byyfolding over wall portions 129 of the uppermost cup member 126 and heatsealing them. Portions 129 should butt seal together in the center andoverlap radially without the necessity of adding an outer paper discseal. However such thin seals can be Substituted for resilient column 35and added at the final punch operation for each package 113 if desired.To allow for variations and assure a complete closure a drop of liquidcellulose acetate may be added by top mold 74 to the center 130 duringthe forming step. Again wall portions 129 may be of such length thatthey extend slightly beyond center 130.

The operation of the machine and formation of the package 88 is asfollows:

Tube 51 is lled with units 52 to be packaged and an adequate supply froma hopper is at hand. Strip 19 is advanced to stop 23 and covers aperture12. Event timing wheel 81 is driven slowly counterclockwise by itsmotor. As segment passes under cable bar 85 projection 99 tilts mercuryswitch 89 in Fig. 2. Switch 89 closes circuit 58 and energizes springreturn solenoid 56 which swings arm 53 with unit 52 in curved face 54into position over aperture 12 yabove which unit 52 is supported by heatsealing cellulose acetate strip 19. Switch 89 opens as projection 99passes, breaking circuit 58 and releasing solenoid 56. Arm 53 returnsunder spring action and another unit 52 to be packaged is dropped intoplace from tube 51. Tail portion 55 supports the column of units 52 intube 51 until arm 53 is returned.

Projection in segment 100 closes switch 90 and circuit 44, operatingvalve 41 and admitting air under pressure from reservoir 39 through pipe40 to the chamber formed by the closed upper portion of guide sleeve 24and piston 32. Piston 32 moves downward under air pressure carrying tube29, and cutter member 25 with it. Cutting edge 26 dies out a blank fromstrip 19 and radial knives 27 produce radial slits or wedge shapedcutouts where a small die 28 is used. While Fig. 3 shows cutting edgesit will serve also to illustrate the died out blank. At the same timeknife edge carried on member 25 squares oif the end of strip 19. Thisaction stops the descent of member 25, but tube 29 continues to descend,compressing spring 34 and increasing the compression of spring 37. Astube 29 descends farther the closureV elements 36 held therein pressupon the unit 52 positioned on the died out portion of strip 19 andpresses both into aperture 12. The conical side of element 13 bend theperiphery of the cut portion of strip 19 upward, causing the slit partsto overlap. When switch 90 opens after the passage of projection 110,circuit 44 is broken, releasing solenoid 42 and closing valve 41whichdischarges the air acting on piston 32 rapidly into the atmosphere.37 then restores tube 29 and cutter member 25 to their originalpositions. Projection 111 closes switch 91 and circuit 60, operatingmotor 59 and advancing the squared end of strip 19 to stop 23.

The above sequence is repeated for segments 101 through 106. In segment107 projection 111 is omitted and on circle 97 a short projection 112 ispositioned to Y close switch 92 just before switch 90 opens. That iscircuit 48 is closed and pointed armature 46 is forced through slot 50and impinges upon the column of closure membersV 36 within tube 29 whenthe bottom closure member 36 has pushed the eighth unit 52 of thepackage 88 into tube 15. On the release of air through valve 41 tube 29rises under the action of spring 37, but the column of closure members36 is held stationary by armature 46 just long enough to deposit thebottom closure member 36.- Switch 92 then opens and spring 49 withdrawsarmature 46 through slot 50, permitting the column of members 36 to risewith'tube 29.

Closure members 36 arecoated with the same heat sealing material asstrip 19. As the died out portions of strip 19 are formed intoV cupshaped members 126 they are sealed together by neat sealing ring 128which is connected to a suitable source of power and is preferablyinsulated from tube 15 which cools and sets the heatv seal'- strip 19 tostop 23 and the next package is formed and forces the preceding packagethrough tube 15 which may be connected to a tube of slightly largerdiameter so that the packages may be carried to a boxing platform byvacuum. The slot 71 will admit suiiicient air to prevent any such vacuumfrom aiecting strip 19 over aperture 12. As previously noted all trimfrom the punch operation is removed by vacuum. Closure members 36 maycarry `any identifying indicia or printed material on their tops orbottoms.

The formation of package 113 is achieved by an event wheel 114. The rstseven segments 11S-121 are the same as on wheel 81. In segment 122projections 99 and 119 operates as in segment 107, but circle 97contains a projection 125 timed to operate after projection 110 haspermitted switch 99 to open. Projection 125 closes switch 92 andcircuits 72 and 77. Solenoid 76 swings vheated top forming mold 74 overaperture 12 and solenoid 65 causes lever face 70 to force the package113 upward so that the wing portions 129 of the top cup 126 are foldedover the top unit 52 and heat sealed in place. Delay device 73 assuresthat mold 74 is in place when the package 113 is pushed upward by lever63.

Projection 110 in segment 123 operates tube 29 and the central resilientmember 35 pushes the package 113 down again. Where seals are used, acolumn of seals replaces member 35. The lowest seal adheres to thefolded portions 129 which are tacky when warm.

Projection 111 in segment 124 advances strip 19 and the apparatus isready to form the next package. Portions 129 cool quickly and are nolonger tacky as the next package forces the iirst down tube 15 which iswidened enough adjacent end 16 to permit the preceding package to dropof its own vweight when the succeeding package is three quarters formed.When the vacuum conveying tube mentioned above is used the first packageis removed as soon as it is pushed low enough to close slot 71 and issubjected to atmospheric pressure. The first package 113 of course mustbe removed to permit lever 6,8 to pass through slot 7i and function.

Squaring knife may be eliminated by packaging rectangular units 52 orplacing a cutting edge such as 130 on wheel 22 the circumference ofwhich is the same as the length of a died out portion. By positioningthe rolls 21 and 22 Within one circumference of aperture i2 the need ofa special holding means is eliminated.

It is contemplated that normal safety circuits may be incorporated inthe device so as to stop event wheel 81 or 'Y While there have beendescribed what are at present considered to be the preferred embodimentsof this invention it will be obvious to those skilled in the art thatvarious changes and modifications may be made therein without departingfrom the invention, and it is, therefore, intended in the appendedclaims to cover b-y generic terms all such changes and modifications asfall within the true spirit ann1 scope of the invention.

I claim:

l.V In combination in a device for packaging a plurality of articles, atabie having an aperture, a strip of wrapping material on said table,means to position an article to be packaged on said strip over the mouthof said aperture, means to remove a wrapper portion from said strip,means to force said article and said portion through said aperture andinto a tube communicating with said aperture and aligned to receive saidarticle and said wrapping portion in nested relation with successiveVsimilar wrapper portions, said tube having cross-section dimensionssmaller than at least one of the area determining dimensions of saidWrapping portion, and means to cause adherence 'between nestedsuccessive wrapper portions whereby a plurality of wrapping portions maybe nested togetherwith articles therebetween and overlapping parts ofsaid nested wrapper portions being sealed together into a unitarypackage.

2. The combination set forth in claim l, said means to cause adherencecomprising heat sealing means for said overlapping wrapper portions innested relation.

3. Packaging apparatus comprising, mounting means, wrapping supply meanspositioned on said mounting means, means to position commodity units tobe wrapped substantially in the center of a wrapping element supplied bysaid supply wrapping means, means to arrange said wrapper portion aroundat least one of said units, means to nest a plurality of wrappingelements with at least one commodity unit packaged therebetween andmeans to cause said wrapping elements to adhere to adjacent wrappingelements to form a unitary package.

4. in combination in apparatus for packaging a plurality of articles, aframe member, wrapping means supported by said frame member, means toposition articles to be packaged on said wrapping means, means todisengage a portion of said Wrapping means, cupping means to arrangesaid wrapper portion around at least one or" said articles, means tonest a plurality of wrapping portions with at least one article packagedtherebetween and to hold certain of said disengaged portions in sealingrelation with each other whereby a plurality of wrapping portions rnaybe nested together with articles therebetween and sealed together into aunitary package.

5. In combination in apparatus for packaging measured units of at leastone commodity, mounting means, Wrapping means supported by said mountingmeans, means to place a commodity unit on said wrapping means, formingmeans to arrange said wrapping means around said unit, means to receivea plurality of commodity unit supporting wrapping means in over-lappingnested relation and sealing means for said wrapping means whereby saidwrap ping means enclose commodity units therebetween and are sealedtogether to form a strong columnar unitary package.

6. In combination in apparatus for separately packaging measuredquantities of at least one commodity, a frame, wrapper means carried bysaid frame for supplying wrapper elements, means to position a measuredquantity of a commodity to be packaged. on a Wrapper element, wrapperforming means to arrange said'wrapper eelment around said measuredquantity positioned on the element, means to support a plurality ofcommodity bearing wrapper elements in nested relation and sealing meansfor said wrappingV elements whereby said wrapper elements enclose saidmeasured commodity quantities in a strong columnar unitary package.

7. The combination set forth Vin claim 6, said wrapper means comprisinga coiled strip of Wrapper material, means to advance a portion of saidstrip to wrapping position and means to detach a wrapper element fromsaid strip. l

8. The combination set forth in claim 7, said means to arrange a Wrapperelement around a quantity of commodity'comprising apertured means havingan effectively conical surface and cooperating punch means to force thewrapper element into an aperture of said apertured means.

9. The combination set forth in claim 8, said means to supportcomprising a tube having said sealing means mounted thereon as a heatedring.

l0. VThe combination set forth in claim 9, control means connected tosaid means to advance said strip, said means to position and said punchmeans to control the sequence ofl their operation. i v A 1l. Thecombination set forth in claim 10, and separate means to seal the lastwrapper element of the package.

l2. The combination set forth in claim 3, said wrapping supply meanscomprising a coiled strip of heat sealable plastic material and means todisengage individual wrapper elements therefrom, said means to arrange awrapper element around a commodity unit comprising cupping means forsaid wrapper elements.

13. The combination set forth in claim 3, and plug means to seal thelast wrapper element of the package.

14. The combination set forth in claim 3, 'heat sealing forming meansfor sealing the last wrapper element of the package and means to forcethe unsealed end of the last wrapper element of said package into saidforming means to form a closing seal on the last commodity unit added tothe package.

15. The combination set forth in claim 6, forming means for sealing thelast wrapper element of the package and means to force the unsealed endsof the last wrapper element of said package .into said forming means toform a closing seal on the last commodity unit added to the package.

16. The combination in packaging apparatus, support means having aworking surface, wrapper element supply means carried by said supportmeans, said working surface having an aperature, means to positionwrapper elements over said aperture with a portion of each said elementextending beyond the edge of said aperture, means to deposit measuredquantities of commodity to be packaged on said wrapper elements, meansto force wrapper elements through said aperture in nested relation withsaid individual measured quantities therebetween and means to sealoverlapping portions of said wrapper elements into a columnar unitarypackage.

17. The combination set forth in claim 1, said tube being elongate andreceiving a plurality of wrapper portions in overlapping nestedrelation.

1S. The combination set forth in claim 1, said means to cause adherencecomprising means to press nested successive wrapper portions togetherinto sealed compartment forming relation.

19. The combination set forth in claim 16, said means to seal nestedportions comprising an elongate tube arranged to receive a plurality ofsaid wrapper elements in nested relation.

20. The combination set forth in claim 19, said means to seal nestedportions comprising heat sealing means mounted in heat sealing positionadjacent said tube.

2]. In combination in apparatus for the packaging of a plurality ofsimilar portions of a product to be individually packaged, comprisingmounting means having means to receive individually wrapped productportions with their respective wrapper elements in contiguousoverlapping nested relation, a supply of Wrapper elements for packagingsaid similar product portions individually, means to position vrapperelements sequentially on said mounting means to receive successiveproduct portions to be individually packaged by said elements, means toposition said product portions one at a time substantially on the centerof successive wrapper elements and means to nest successive wrapperelements into each other in said means to receive with their respectiveproduct portions therebetween and the side walls of adjacent wrapperelements positioned in overlapped sealing relation in said means toreceive whereby a package forming a strong unitary member of sealednested elements forming individually sealed compartments for eachproduct portion is produced.

22. The combination set forth in claim 2l, said supply of wrapperelements comprising a coiled striip of wrapping material from which saidwrapper elements can be cut mounted on said mounting means, means forremoving wrapper eelments from said strip, said means to receivecomprising a cylinder supported by said mounting means and having afunnel-shaped opening to receive said individually wrapped productportions with their respective wrapper elements in contiguousoverlapping nested relation.

23. In combination in apparatus for packaging a plurality of articles,mounting means, wrapping means supported by said mounting means, walledmeans to receive said wrapping means `as cup shaped elements in nestedrelation with overlapping side walls and at least one of said articlesbetween adjacent nested elements, means to position articles to bewrapped, means to nest the wrapping elements with an articletherebetween within said walled means and means to adhere at leastportions of said overlapping side Walls in sealing relation to form astrong columnar unitary package having individual compartments.

24. The combination set forth in claim 23, said wrapping meanscomprising a coiled strip of heat sealing wrapper material, said walledmeans comprising a cylindrical tube having a flared conical entrance,means to advance a portion of said strip to wrapping position over saidconical entrance to said tube, said means to nest comprising means todetach an element from said strip and force it into said flared entranceto said tube to form said cup-shaped elements, said means to adherecomprising heat sealing means carried by said tube and acting to causeadherence between the thermoplastic material on said overlapping sidewalls of the nested wrapping elements in said tube.

25. In combination in apparatus for packaging a plurality of articlesseparately in individual compartments, wrapping means for said articles,means to position said articles 'for Wrapping, means to nest successiveindividual wrapper elements with at least one article therebetween andwith overlapping side walls and means to cause contiguous walls ofsuccessive wrapper elements to adhere to provide a unitary packagehaving sealed compartments for said articles.

26. The combination set forth in claim 25, said wrapping meanscomprising an elongate strip of heat sealing wrapper material from whichsaid individual wrapping means are detached, said means to nestsuccessive individual elements comprising means to detach a wrapperelement from said strip, said means to adhere comprising heat sealingmeans, said articles comprising measured units of perishable foodmaterial formed in masses of similar conguration.

27. The combination set forth in claim 26, means to move said stripintermittently, means to actuate said means to detach, means to operatesaid means to position and sequence operation control means connected toeach of said means to move, said means to actuate and said means tooperate to cause said three means to function in a predeterminedsequence.

28. The combination set forth in claim 27, said sequence operationcontrol means comprising a movable wheel having circuits closing meansthereon and electrical circuits connected to said three means for thesequential actuation thereof, said circuits being constructed to beopened and closed by said circuit closing means, said means to nestcomprising a tube for receiving said successive wrapped elements with atleast one article therebetween and to press said overlapping side wallstogether.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS924,555 Jenkins June 8, 1909 1,510,260 Cyrenius Sept. 30, 1924 1,745,929Grimmeisen Feb. 4, 1930 2,043,830 Gront et al. June 9, 1936 2,189,347Martin Feb. 6, 1940 2,210,509 Strauch Aug. 6 1940 2,302,846 Farmer Nov.24, 1942 2,325,145 Martin July 27, 1943 2,365,920 Vaughn Dec. 26, 19442,439,977 Kendle Apr. 20, 1948 FOREIGN PATENTS 8,872 Great Britain June8, 1955

